Ambrose impressed as patched-up Spalding Town roar to first win of season

Buoyant skipper Rob Ambrose saluted Spalding Town’s best performance of the season so far as they defeated hosts Alford by 106 runs on Saturday.

The victory, Town’s first of the season in the Lincs ECB Premier Division, propels them out of the drop zone and safely into mid-table.

Spalding’s biggest weakness so far this season has been their batting – but that certainly wasn’t the case at Train Fen Holt as they racked up 273-9 without the unavailable quartet of Warren Nel, Dan Millgate, Ben Smith and Hafiz Majeed.

Openers Faisal Javed (94) and Josh Newton (63) put on 116 for the first wicket, with both finding the boundary at regular intervals.

Javed cracked 12 fours and two sixes, while Newton helped himself to ten fours and a solitary maximum.

Number three Luke Hollingworth (52) also made a half-century, slapping five fours, while Tim Norris (21 not out) ensured that Town batted out their overs.

In reply, Javed took 6-29 to complete a man-of-the-match performance and help bowl Alford out for 167. Jon Manton (2-4), Hollingworth (1-45) and Jon Miles (1-53) got the other wickets as the visitors wrapped up the innings in the 40th over.

Captain Ambrose said: “We travelled with a really patched-up side – but it was the best we’ve played all season.

“They’ve got a good pitch over there and the lads really enjoyed themselves.

“I’ve said previously that we’ve struggled to get past 200, so to post closer to 300 was a real boost.

“Faisal looked a lot more at home and played without pressure. He batted beautifully and didn’t really give any chances until he got into the 90s.

“Josh and Luke also batted very well, it was a good effort from the top order.

“With our bowling being as strong as it is, getting 270-odd really put them out of the game.

“We also looked very good in the field. I thought we looked quite old in the first few games, but the young lads Josh Lawrence and Jon Manton have come in and given us a big boost.

“The win is massively important for us. It jumps us up the league and has really made a difference to the morale in the dressing room.”

Next up for Town is a Spalding Grammar School date with basement side Louth (noon).

Ambrose hopes to welcome back Nel and Milgate to the fold, while Chris Dring is pushing for a first team slot after scoring 99 for the second string on Saturday (see story, below).

The skipper feels recording back-to-back wins will elevate Town to the mid-table position they merit – but knows Louth will be feeling they can get a much-needed victory too.

“I think it’s a big one for us,” added Ambrose. “If we can follow Saturday up with another win, we start looking up the table instead of over our shoulders.

“Our aim at the start of the season was to find ourselves in mid-table, which we still feel is achievable.

“Louth will be looking at us as a side they can beat too, so it should be a good one.

“The league always evens itself out by the halfway stage, so if we can win on Saturday and keep picking up points, we will be where we deserved to be.”